Arsenal put in a solid performance, with Petr Cech breaking the clean sheets Premier League record of David James

Dec 29, 2015 09:33 IST

As Mesut Ozil deservedly took all the plaudits for an attacking masterclass in Arsenal's 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Monday, what went under the radar a little was an incredible record posted by the club's newest recruit â€“ Petr Cech.

Having equalled David James' clean sheets record in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa earlier this month, Cech took sole ownership of the mark after shutting out Bournemouth at the Emirates.

Cech now has 170 clean sheets in the English Premier League, beating James' long-standing mark, and that too with a couple of hundred games to spare.

The Arsenal goalkeeper, who made a summer move from Chelsea, was understandably proud of the incredible achievement.

"I must say at the end of the game I was proud," Cech told Arsenal Player. "It is not every day you break the record of the best league in the world. I was really pleased we won the game as well because after the game we had at Southampton we had to bounce back in style."

Arsenal did bounce back in style, with Ozil grabbing an assist â€“ which was headed in by Gabriel -- and a goal, but Cech admitted he did endure a few nervy moments as the clock started to wind down, with the goalkeeper aware the record was within reach.

"Overall we had a good performance and near the end, in the last five or 10 minutes, I started to check the clock as you start to think, 'Okay, that is the game and you need to see it through and not concede' and we did well not to," Cech added.

"We concentrated until the last second because if even if you concede in the last three minutes then there is added time then it can be a very long five minutes. There can be a mistake and then you can lose the game and you need to concentrate from the start to the finish.

"It cannot be easy sometimes when you are in control and you are 2-0 up and the opposition is pushing for that goal. You have to make sure you are professional, organised and do the right things and [against Bournemouth] we knew how to do it."

The win took Arsenal to the Premier League summit, but Leicester City can go back top with victory over Manchester City on Tuesday.